The Jamaican Language: a Very Brief Introduction

One of the main concerns people have when traveling to Jamaica or any other foreign country is the language. Will they be able to communicate with the natives? Will their vacation be enjoyable if they are unable to seek as the natives do? Are the basics of the language difficult to learn?



In terms of Jamaican language or dialect, I will try to inform you about some of the basics of the language. I am not sure I can tell you how to speak Jamaican, but learning a bit about the language can make communication with a Jamaican a somewhat easier.



The Jamaican vocabulary is derived from English and African languages. The Jamaican language is really English but with its own cultural twist or dialect called patois (pronounced "patwah"). I guess patois is the unofficial language while English is the official language of the island. Because of the accents of African descent the language can be sometimes difficult to understand. For the most part the dialect can be deciphered with a bit of knowledge of the culture. Keep in mind as well that Jamaicans are educated with the English Language in school and even though they may not choose to speak the language properly, they understand it and for the most part can speak it well.



It is a beautiful dialect which can be heard in anything Jamaican, especially the music. Many people have heard examples of the language through the famous sounds of Bob Marley. The language is such a part of the culture that many of the stories and folklore are communicated in patois. To know more on how to speak jamaican visit http://www.speakjamaican.com

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